Millard, Childress mull possible new QB

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — There’s still plenty of uncertainty as to whom will be West Virginia’s starting quarterback in 2013. And after Saturday’s Gold-Blue spring game, there weren’t many answers just yet as junior Paul Millard and redshirt freshman Ford Childress combined for 354 yards, four touchdowns and an interception.

The quarterback battle hasn’t seen much separation throughout the spring, but with this week’s announcement that former Florida State quarterback Clint Trickett is mulling a potential transfer to WVU, the competition in the fall could be even more heated — and more crowded.

Joe Sadlek All-Pro Photography

Redshirt-freshman quarterback Ford Childress finished Saturday’s game with 169 yards and a touchdown.

“I look at it as just another kid coming in like in high school,” Childress said on the possibility of Trickett joining WVU. “It’s just another guy coming in that would be fighting for that job. We would all have to deal with the competition and push ourselves to get the spot.”

As for Millard?

“Competition is competition,” he said. “I look at it as a challenge. In life, we have challenges all the time. So, you just have to embrace the challenge, go out there and do your thing.At the end of the day, it’ll all come through.”

Regardless of whether Trickett joins the WVU fold or not, Millard mentally is prepared to do what he needs this offseason to put himself in the best position possible come August.

“I can only control certain things and it’s the same thing in life,” Millard said. “There’s only certain things you can control and I just have to keep working. At the end of the day, God’s plan will all come through.”

Millard finished Saturday’s contest going 16 of 27 through the air for 185 yards and three touchdowns to 14 of 21 passing for 169 yards, a touchdown and an interception for Childress.

“He got three touchdowns, so he has the bragging rights right now,” Childress said. “I can’t really say anything, (but the competition) puts pressure on us in the right way. We’re just trying to better ourselves everyday. When you have a guy going neck-and-neck with you, you’re going to try your absolute hardest every snap. It’ll be good for us over the summer.”

A summer that possibly could see another signal caller join that quarterback battle.

Garrett Cullen

Garrett serves as the afternoon sports anchor for the MetroNews Radio Network, also covering WVU and high school sports in the state. He's a 2010 Magna Cum Laude graduate of West Virginia University.

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Comments

cutty77

This Just In. Clint Trickett is going to Visit Auburn. Something must of happened between him and his Dad.

April 25, 2013 at 6:46 pm |

Michael Walker

I don't know where you guys get your info. Trickett started against Clemson in 2011 and was 24 of 38 for 336 yds and 3 TDs. For his career he is 66 of 106 for 957 yds 7 TDs 4 Int.
If I was him and watched the spring game, I'd certainly give it a shot. The best of the 3 would still be the starting QB.

April 21, 2013 at 8:55 am |

cutty77

This is my Info. Geno threw almost 500 passes last year, 42 TD anhd Only 6 ints. Trickett has only thrown 100 passes 7 TD's and 4 Int's. At FSU they have only one Back Up QB. If Clint comes in and starts we are in Major Trouble. I will say this again.ITS A JOKE.

April 21, 2013 at 7:24 pm |

big tom

the only reason he got a scholarship at fsu was because he dad was the off. line coach.
why wvu would offer him is beyond me... we didn't offer him when he was in high school ,so why now..
a redshirt freshman is beating him out at fsu, so why in the world would we want a reject.

April 21, 2013 at 12:36 am |

Chef Camille

Clint is not even an option. It's a plant to see if any of these knuckleheads do weel in the spring game. Typical HC mental agmes.san

April 20, 2013 at 11:26 pm |

cutty77

This is a Joke Garrett. Clint Tricket can't QB for Glenville State,let alone WVU. Maybe they will use him as Scout Team QB. I really can't believe this story has legs.He can't Play D-1 Football for anybody,period